How can you say you're not paid well?

live4today, RN · Apr 5, 2005

Any RN who makes less than $25.00/hour is being underpaid, but that's my opinion. I'm sure others might think less than that is acceptable to them....depending on how long each nurse has been practicing. :) No matter where I live, I want at least $25.00/hour to do floor nursing.

Slobgob · Apr 5, 2005

There are RNs making less than $20/hr around the country... $28 is pretty good, but you'd also have to figure in the high cost of living.

I think the point isn't: Nurses can't survive on their salary.

More like: Nurses aren't paid well enough for such huge responsibilities and hard work. You have so many lives in your hands... and you're in a position where one error could end that life.

grammyr · Apr 5, 2005

In my area, the starting pay is usually $16-18. per hour plus shift diff. I make well less than $28. per hour unless I am working an extra shift. There is no extra incentive to stay. Most of the nurses get a 2-3% raise every year. No extra for the number of years as a nurse. The only certification that matters at our facility is ACLS and then only if you work ER or ICU. I am about to take the CEN and the hospital is not paying one cent extra for the certification.

I guess I should start a new topic with this question, but I am interested in how your facility staffs its ER.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Apr 5, 2005

I'm a certified Med/Surg nurse, and we get a 3% differential for having the certification which puts me somewhere upwards of $27 an hour. For the area I live in, that's pretty good......the local average is somewhere around $12 an hour. :) My hubby has been at the same manufacturing plant for over 5 years and still makes less than $10 an hour, while I've almost doubled my hourly wage since I graduated 8 years ago.

Nope, can't do much complaining about that. :)

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Apr 5, 2005

I have to agree with grammy,, starting salary for a nurse in my area is about 17 an hour. No more sign on bonuses, 2-3 percent a year if they give a raise. Doesnt really add up to fast,, most nurses still dont make what their neighborhood mailman makes.

It's livable wage i guess if you arent lookin to retire.

Actually a sad state of affairs considering we have peoples lives in our hands everyday.

neneRN, BSN, RN · Apr 5, 2005

The money's not bad, it's the amount of responsibility that it's supposed to compensate you for that isn't quite fair.

unknown99, BSN, RN · Apr 5, 2005

Could someone please explain to me why the nurses are complaining that they're not being pad well. In case my math is wrong this is the figure that I come up with.
3 day/12 hour shift at average $28/hr in New York
12 hours *$28=$336 per day*3 days $1008 per week* 52 Weeks that's $52,416 per year......that's just the average in New York. If you do 4 days you pull in almost $70,000.
So, what the all the complaining about not getting paid? I just don't understand.
Am I missing something?
Aaron
PS: I didn't even include any sign on bonus or night differential pay.

Yes Aaron, you are missing something. Not every nurse lives and works in New York. When you BECOME a nurse, who lives in a less wealthier state, trying to pay a mortgage, raise the kids, cloth tham and feed them, then we will see the story change. But, until you are a real nurse doing a real nurse's job, going through what we do for the pay we make, then you will not see that.

LPN1974, LPN · Apr 5, 2005

I am an LPN, been on the same state job for almost 25 yrs, and make 18.52/hr.

Also to be taken into consideration, is the cost of living, the fact that I am topped out at the top of my grade, our fine governor denies further COL adjustments at the top of my grade, and also, last but not least.............I am SINGLE. Figure this into my taxes, and Uncle Sam gets almost a third of my pay. I have no deductions, no children, nothing to help me out. My house is paid for, so I have no finance/interest to deduct.

I still have to eat, pay for higher utilities, and pay for the ever rising cost of gasoline for my car, just like everyone else.

And I do not live beyond my means. I keep my credit paid off monthly, so I won't have those interest charges, I don't go on cruises, or buy expensive jewelry.

I'm just trying to exist.

Now if I could get a SSN for my dog, I might get a little help there. lol

bellehill, RN · Apr 5, 2005

Yes I do make good money working nights and as many weekends as possible. Of course then you have to take out my retirement savings, insurance and taxes. Between my husband and I we are able to make a mortgage payment, have two fairly new cars and go out to eat a couple times a week. If I need more money I work overtime which there is usually plenty of.

I have been a nurse almost 4 years, I have already had one back injury. My joints hurt so bad when I come home I am limping. I make life and death decisions for the patient with the help of the doctors (sometimes).

I make enough to live on, but with the level of responsibility I carry for 12 hours...not enough. Add in the fact that I can't do this the rest of my life ( my body will wear out).

redwinggirlie · Apr 5, 2005

To the original poster:

Have you ever been a nurse?

redwinggirlie · Apr 5, 2005

I have to add, if you haven't been a nurse, you don't understand that those figures you cited mean nothing. A good nurse is a godsend.

If you've not done the job, you will never understand that for most of us, pay isn't our goal. It's what we do that counts. And yes, I'd like to see someone try to manage my three days a week on the burn unit with a grain of salt.

Not gonna happen.

Don't question what you don't know my friend.